Non-BJD parties to discuss Mahanadi water issue on August 3

Bhubaneswar: Non-BJD political parties in Odisha will attend an all-party meeting to discuss water sharing with neighbouring Chhattisgarh on August 3, said Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly Narasingha Mishra.

Mishra, a Congress MLA, said he has convened the meeting after Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik did not show any interest on taking other political parties on board on the Mahanadi water issue and in the interest of the state.

He said parties like BJP, CPI, CPI(M) and others would attend the August 3 meeting.

BJP MLA Pradip Purohit said his party would attend the meeting convened by Mishra as BJP would fight for the interest of Odisha even though the party ruled in Chhattisgarh.

BJP state president Basant Panda said “There will be no compromise with the interest of Odisha.”

Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said the BJD was using the issue to cover up its failure. The state government did not react over the matter when it was required, he said.

BJD spokesman P K Deb said there was no meaning of attending an all-party meeting with national parties as they would have to wait for the views of their respective high commands.

“The state leaders of national parties like Congress and BJP cannot take any decision on their own. Therefore, holding meeting with them makes no difference,” Deb said, adding BJD was totally dedicated to the protection of Odisha’s interest.

Meanwhile, ruling BJD MLAs, MPs and ministers participated in a demonstration before the office of the District Collector at Subarnapur today and submitted a memorandum addressed to the President with the District Collector.